Robert J. La Verghetta, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Gerald Johnson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

The Heisman Trophy's official X account faced backlash for its post mourning the death of Orenthal James Simpson, better known by his initials “OJ” or his nickname “the Juice,” who won the award in 1968 while at USC.

Despite being found civilly liable for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, the Heisman account posted a graphic extending sympathy to Simpson's family.

This tribute was met with criticism from fans, who considered the graphic tasteless in light of the widespread belief that Simpson committed the grisly dual murder.

“Why don't you take a stab at extending your sympathies to the Brown and Goldman families?” wrote one user.

Simpson, who passed away at 76, was initially charged with the murders of Brown and Goldman but was later acquitted in a controversial trial.

His reputation suffered a massive hit, and many fans responded to the Heisman post by saying that Reggie Bush, another former USC star, should get his Heisman trophy back (Bush won the award in 2005 but voluntarily gave it back in 2010 after an NCAA investigation found he accepted impermissible benefits while at school).

Simpson's murder trial came after a legendary NFL career, with sports personality Skip Bayless remembering him as the “most charismatic athlete I ever knew.”

Bayless highlighted Simpson's achievements and commercials, stating, “In his day he was something. That is not to discount anything that happened after.”

Simpson died surrounded by his family at his home in Las Vegas, as announced by his family in a post on X.

Simpson passed away on Thursday after a battle with prostate cancer, according to a statement released by his family on X.

“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace,” the Simpson family stated.

Simpson’s trial for the murder of Brown and Goldman is often referred to as “The Trial of the Century” and remains one of the most iconic and divisive legal cases in American history. Although he was found not guilty in 1995, a civil court later held him responsible for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to the families of the deceased.

Perhaps learning from the backlash to the Heisman Trophy's post, the NFL has officially said that it will not be releasing a statement regarding the death of O.J. Simpson, a decision that extends to the Buffalo Bills, the team with which Simpson is most closely associated. After reaching out to the NFL for comment, The Daily Mail reported that the NFL had no plans to issue a statement, with Simpsons' former team the Buffalo Bills also choosing to remains silent.